Obesity in Teens
The problem of obesity in teens in the world has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year. The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Overweight children and obesity in teens is likely to cause adults to become overweight unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.
A few extra pounds do not suggest obesity. However they may indicate a tendency to gain weight easily and a need for changes in diet and/or exercise. Generally, a child is not considered obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for the height and body type. Obesity most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of 5 and 6, and during adolescence. Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.
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The causes of teen obesity are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral and cultural factors. Basically, obesity occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the children will also be obese. However, recent studies on obesity in teens show that when both parents are obese, the children have an 80 percent chance of being obese. This seems to be a major teenage obesity risk. Although certain medical disorders can cause obesity, less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems. Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to: poor eating habits, overeating or bingeing, lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids), family history of obesity, medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems), medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications), stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse), family and peer problems, low self-esteem, depression or other emotional problems. Many medical professionals believe that fast food obesity causes most obesity children cases.
Dealing with Obesity in Teens
There are many risks and complications with obesity. Physical consequences include increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems and trouble sleeping. Child and adolescent obesity is also associated with increased risk of emotional problems. Teens with weight problems tend to have much lower self-esteem and be less popular with their peers. Depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder can also occur. As many essays on child obesity and child obesity statistics have revealed, only a small percentage of childhood obesity is associated with a hormonal or genetic defect, with the remainder being idiopathic in nature. Obese children should be evaluated for associated morbidity. This includes an assessment of cardiac risk factors, weight-related orthopedic problems, skin disorders and potential psychiatric sequelae.
Childhood obesity statistics also have shown that obese children have increased average blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output when compared to non-obese peers. Tobacco use should be ascertained in all young people, as this represents an independent risk for cardiovascular disease. Finally, the presence of diabetes should be considered in all morbidly obese children. While overt type 2 diabetes mellitus is rare in childhood, hyper-insulinemia and glucose intolerance are nearly universal in morbidly obese children.
Childhood obesity facts are that the child's level of physical activity should be assessed, not only for cardiac risk evaluation, but also to help guide future treatment. Television viewing patterns should be reviewed, since television viewing has been shown to be associated with obesity in childhood. Childhood obesity and fast food advertising can be related and should be more publicly debated. Instead, more debates on teen obesity and teen weight loss tips or free weight loss for teens advertising should be put in.
When a child develops obesity, a serious attempt to treat it should be undertaken. Below, we present you some childhood obesity related medical conditions and components of a successful plan to help these kids.
Can teen obesity be managed and treated? Obese children need a thorough medical evaluation by a pediatrician or family physician to consider the possibility of a physical cause. In the absence of a physical disorder, the only way to lose weight is to reduce the number of calories being eaten and to increase the child or adolescent’s level of physical activity. Lasting weight loss can only occur when there is self-motivation. Since obesity often affects more than one family member, making healthy eating and regular exercise a family activity can improve the chances of successful weight control for the child or adolescent.
Ways to manage obesity in children and adolescents include start a weight-management program, change eating habits (eat slowly, develop a routine), plan meals and make better food selections (eat less fatty foods, avoid junk and fast foods), control portions and consume less calories, increase physical activity (especially walking) and have a more active lifestyle, know what your child eats at school, eat meals as a family instead of while watching television or at the computer, do not use food as a reward, limit snacking or attend a support group (e.g., Weight Watchers, Overeaters Anonymous).
Obesity frequently becomes a lifelong issue. The reason most obese adolescents gain back their lost pounds is that after they have reached their goal, they go back to their old habits of eating and exercising. An obese adolescent must therefore learn to eat and enjoy healthy foods in moderate amounts and to exercise regularly to maintain the desired weight. Parents of an obese child can improve their child’s self esteem by emphasizing the child’s strengths and positive qualities rather than just focusing on their weight problem.
When a child or adolescent with obesity also has emotional problems, a child and adolescent psychiatrist can work with the child’s family physician to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Such a plan would include reasonable weight loss goals, dietary and physical activity management, behavior modification, and family involvement.
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